During countless casual conversations, this question has been asked. And every time, the questioner is referring to the occupation of the one being questioned.
And thus, one's job has come to define that individual.
I work in the IT field, therefore I'm an IT guy.
My friend works in a hospital as a surgeon, so he's a doctor.
My sister teaches, so she's a teacher.
But the problem with this approach is that IT is NOT what I do and more importantly it definitely is NOT who I am.
Of more significance (I would hope), is that I'm a father, a husband, a son, a servant, a neighbor and so much more. I am someone who hopes to make my mark in this world and this mark has absolutely nothing to do with IT.
I struggle for more hours each month raising my kids than I do at work, yet I'm supposed to answer the question 'What do you do?' with my official job title??
'Yeah, I'm a networking engineer.'
No, that's not what I do.
What I really do is constantly struggle on the path back to Allah (swt). I struggle to please my parents, take care of my wife, and empower my children with goodness.
My entire life revolves around *THAT*. That's what I do.
I use my job merely to assist me and my family on that journey.
Full. Stop.
However, our society has turned us all into meaningless automatons, whose primary function is to work. And if we're not working, we're either studying to work or vacationing from work.
What the hell sort of existence is that??
Our conversations revolve around our ephemeral existence. The context of our vocabulary is completely of *this* world. If our intention is to talk of the other-world (you know, the REAL world), we are forced to specify it. But in our normal day-to-day interactions, it's become understood that we are referring to what our limited physical senses perceive.
We have lost sight of our true purpose and our social lexicon reflects that loss:
A 'successful' person is one with worldly fame or fortune.
An 'alive' individual is one who truly experiences life.
One who is 'bankrupt' is one without any wealth.
All terms that ought to have higher, other-worldly significance, but instead have become restricted to this-worldly (mis)understandings.
So, next time someone asks me what I do, I'm gonna answer that I'm a struggling traveler.
'Hmm, you mean you're a traveling salesman?'
[Groan]
Just don’t call it genocide
1 week ago
18 comments:
Yeah, it's funny that our existence and worth in this life often boils down to our jobs.
"You're a doctor? Oh, wow! What a good job!"
"You're a trash collector? Hmmm, I see."
The truly valuable things that we do aren't so valued among humankind.
Good thought-provoking post. Thank you!
OFF Topic!
Sorry :-)
I saw a very good but short (about 20min.) documentary last night
http://www.sonsacrifice.com/index.html
Masha'Allah, it was really good!
In fact, this comment is not off topic.
ok, I have to run :-)
Mashallah ...nice post
It is sad( but true) how people give importance to the material life.I believe the the Lord has hidden our expiry date for a reason, so that we live every moment as though we would die the next.
But 'What have i prepared for death?' is a question everyone must ask themselves...big degrees?..money?..car?...POOF!!...its only the deeds that will travel with us to the next world...
May the Lord accept our good deeds from us...
Stop biting off my posts, son!
I was once described by a woman I dated to another woman as a "poet." To be honest, I was horrified that someone would think of me simply as a poet, so I told the other woman that I was an accountant who wrote poetry.
Look at the companions of the Messenger of Allah...they each had their professions but can you name one? they are remembered for their strong connection to their Lord, their piety, their knowledge.
As a human, I have so many hobbies and interests, but I am a servant of Allah firstly and lastly.
not the topic of your post but i'll the sliver of an opening and say---> in the desi world, saying you are in IT has a stigma nowadays, you're the child who couldnt become a doctor, lawyer, or engineer. A relative of mine said to my face, you are fake IT person, you aren't a real IT person, lol.
Such a deep insightful post! This sort of inane questioning is all too common amongst South Asians (both Muslim and non Muslim). It's like that's what they believe is the ultimate definiton of a person's worth. And I hate how snidely they look down upon someone who did complete college but didn't get a degree in the "real" professions (science, engineering, medicine, etc). I remember when I told my parents I wanted to be a nurse they were like, why a nurse a doctor is more prestigious/Aargh! Now that I'm neither a doctor nor a housewife but a Muslimah housewife who is struggling to raise her children by Deen, my family is begging me to just work instead of stay home (the ultimate shame)! Even if the only job I could qualify for here in Saudi Arabia is in teaching (another profession they looked down upon)! And you know even though my husband's also in IT my family actually thinks he's wasting his degree working in Saudi Arabia instead of in the good ol US of A (they're pretending the massive economic crisis isn't that bad)! I'm glad I live thousands of miles away from them; I think I'd go crazy if I still lived in they US and had to constantly listen to them question why I wasn't being a full fledged American career woman/GRRRR!
Sorry I meant to say that I'm neither a doctor nor a nurse!
AA-
@Susanne, Good point...I didn't even get into the judgmental values we hold against occupations deemed below our standard.
"The truly valuable things that we do aren't so valued among humankind."
How inhumane of us. Very sad.
@Gess, thanks for the link...I'll be sure to check out the video.
@MubMaj, thanks for the reminder. Indeed death is the greatest of all reminders.
@Sophister, LOL, don't hate me cuz you don't know how to save your posts before they get accidentally deleted. Uhm, that is your official excuse right? Wordpress ate my homework.
:-P
Nawww bro, I'm really looking forward to your post on this topic, right after you explain how you plan on screwing your deep thoughts. ;-)
AA-
@JD, wait I don't get your point. Are you saying that you prefer to be known by your occupation? Or was that pre-marriage JD the playa? :-)
@UmmSara, excellent point. So many of our great luminaries throughout Islamic history had special skills used to earn their daily wages, but what truly lasted was their work and struggle for Allah (swt).
@Arif, great, another reason for me to deny that i'm an IT guy. But hey, thanks for that totally useless point buddy! :-)
@Anon, good for you sis! Your struggle for your family's sake will be one of your greatest achievements that you will take to the grave. Paychecks be damned!
May Allah accept your sacrifices...
Oh, that was most definitely the pre-marriage, pre-Muslim (by about six years) JD the desperately lucky to have dated anyone at that time "playa." ;)
Salaams,
Stumbled across your blog via my other favourite reads and Masha-Allah very insightful it is.
It is quite sad that we determine who people are by what they do. I suppose its just human nature to do that and I don't believe its just more common in the people from Asian backgrounds.
I've experinced it on many an occasion after leaving my career to raise my children and build a strong family and trying to instil good islamic morals within my home.
That's my struggle, trying to please Allah Swa by trying to be a good muslim and raising 3 more good muslims. I have to keep reminding muself that it is He who will judge me truly and not the one who says "Oh ok, you're a mum".
Loved your blog and IA will be back to read more.
Wassalaam
Umm Aisha
Salaam Naeem--I pray you and your family are all doing well.
I think it's important to recognize the distinction between behaviors and identities for ourselves, which you sort of touched on in your post (which is mostly about looking at others I think.)
Let's call 'Identity' how we define ourselves. I am ------.
Am I a doctor? Am I a network engineer? I am a Muslim, that's the way I define my identity, to start with.
And then behaviors and actions are things we do.
Some people might define themselves by their jobs like in the examples above. But typically for ourselves we might see our jobs as something that we do, and not something that we are
So look and see if there is a line between doing engineering, and being an engineer.
I don't think asking what a person does is the same question as asking who that person is.
Great post! One meaning of "Career" is a synonym for "Careen", to go off course.
Yeah the title says it all.
"What do you do?"
Sometimes I just want to go off on a rant about what I really do all day and just keep talking in one big sentence about it like a big maniacal rage.
Nice post.
what a lovely post. Maybe we should start answering this differently- I just work during the day, otherwise, I am a daughter, sister... etc. I like this idea! =)
AA-
@UmmAisha, "That's my struggle, trying to please Allah Swa by trying to be a good muslim and raising 3 more good muslims. I have to keep reminding muself that it is He who will judge me truly and not the one who says "Oh ok, you're a mum"."
Well said. Its that condescension that people express that really upsets me.
@Amy, "But typically for ourselves we might see our jobs as something that we do, and not something that we are"
True. I believe that most people, when probed, will agree with your statement. But only *after* thinking about it - sadly, their initial gut reaction is about their worldly struggle. The overarching worldview that most people hold is of THIS world, not the other-world. Hope that makes sense...
@binGregory - LOL! excellent point. Our 'careers' have indeed taken us off our intended course!
@Laura, go for it! I'd be interested to read such a rant. :-)
@alajnabiyya, thank you and I seriously am going to answer that question in such a manner. No more "I'm an IT guy" crap.
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